In the context of a rapidly changing environment, there is an increasing need for larger data networks to answer pressing ecological questions and respond to new research priorities. The study of tree-rings offers important information to improve our understanding of past and contemporary forest ecology, tree physiology, forest management and terrestrial carbon cycling across a range of spatial and temporal scales. This includes investigations of trends in tree growth and forest health and productivity, response to environmental drivers and comparisons of observational and modeled forest productivity estimates. While the well-known International Tree-Ring Data Bank was developed for dendroclimatological purposes, its utility to answer ecological questions is limited by sampling design bias and lack of tree and ecological data. Herein, we sought to develop an open-access data network, the DendroEcological Network (DEN), for tree-ring and associated ecological data to facilitate efficient multiscale spatial and temporal analysis of tree growth and forest productivity, as well as its integration with other large databases to address current and future environmental challenges.
Results/Conclusions
The DEN provides an open, centralized and flexible cyberinfrastructure for the discovery, exploration and sharing of dendroecological data by researchers, forest managers and the public. This high quality and reliable network accelerates understanding by facilitating the investigation and synthesis of otherwise largely dispersed or otherwise inaccessible data. As a repository, the DEN multiplies the scientific value of individual research efforts by aiding discoverability and expansion of that data beyond its original purpose and attributing authorship. The DEN addresses the demand for databases needed to answer environmental questions that go beyond the scope of any one discipline, thus providing benefits to other research communities. The ability to investigate ecological processes at different temporal and spatial scales is needed as certain dynamics are only interpretable in the context of larger scale and longer term biogeographical or atmospheric processes. Without the DEN, a critical dataset of forest health and productivity would remain largely unavailable, limiting reciprocal benefits among research communities.